Editorial Feedback

January 28, 2002

DEFENDS DAVIS. In response to the Jan. 16 letter "Defense spending" that unfairly attacks and misrepresents Jo Ann Davis' record: Bob Adams asserts that Davis voted against a $985 million "defense bill" of which $87 million "was to go to the shipyard."

What actually occurred was Davis voted against a $985 million gutting amendment in the authorization bill that would have fundamentally destroyed the U.S. Navy's ability to protect American interests against anti-ship and theater missile attack.

Furthermore, the $87 million authorization for the refueling of the USS Eisenhower was $30 million more than required, and the Navy had already reprogrammed the $30 million for other purposes.

Davis worked for, and obtained, the required $57 million authorization needed to complete the refueling of the Eisenhower in the final bill.